John Kirby obit

John Kirby Dies: Acting Coach, Bruno Kirby’s Brother & Bruce Kirby’s Son Was 75

 

He was not on the list.

John Kirby, an acting coach, brother of City Slickers star Bruno Kirby, and the son of Bruce Kirby, has died. He was 75.

The actor and acting coach died the morning of Wednesday, July 15, three years after being diagnosed with ALS.

“I am here to officially, with a broken heart, announce the passing of our beloved John on the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 15, and it has been devastating for all of us. And we’re trying to just find a way to cope,” longtime associate Nathan Nesbitt confirmed in a social media post shared on Kirby’s Instagram.

John Kirby was diagnosed with ALS on July 7, 2023, a year after he began to feel symptoms. It was following a fall and a fractured hip the previous month that he got the medical tests done that revealed the diagnosis.

John Kirby had a long-standing working relationship with Jim Caviezel as his acting coach in the 2000 film Frequency. Films where John Kirby served as Caviezel’s acting coach that followed were Pay It Forward (2000), Angel Eyes (2001), The Count of Monte Cristo (2002), High Crimes (2002), I Am David (2003), The Final Cut (2004), Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004), and Unknown (2006).

Other films in which John Kirby lent his talents included Peter Pan (2003), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Underdog (2007), Outlander (2008), Hotel California (2008), Scream 4 (2011), Prom (2011), and The Age of Adaline (2015), to name a few.

A memorial service for John Kirby has been set for Saturday, August 15 at 1 p.m. at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills. A GoFundMe page has been set up for those who wish to donate.

Additional Crew

Diane Box Worman and George C. Tronsrue in Out on a Limb (2024)

Out on a Limb

Short

acting coach

2024

 

Max & Me (2023)

Max & Me

5.4

actors director

2023

 

Lucas Black, Roman Engel, and Kyleigh Bakker in Legacy Peak (2022)

Legacy Peak

5.2

acting coach

2022

 

Crystal Fox, Peter Parros, John Schneider, Gavin Houston, Angela Robinson, Renee Lawless, Tika Sumpter, Aaron O'Connell, and Tyler Lepley in The Haves and the Have Nots (2013)

The Haves and the Have Nots

6.1

TV Series

acting coach

2020

20 episodes

 

Topher Grace, Dennis Haysbert, Josh Lucas, Mike Colter, Chrissy Metz, and Marcel Ruiz in Breakthrough (2019)

Breakthrough

6.3

acting coach: Chrissy Metz

2019

 

Ryan Potter and Liv Ritchie in Running for Grace (2018)

Running for Grace

6.2

acting coach

2018

 

Jim Caviezel and James Faulkner in Paul, Apostle of Christ (2018)

Paul, Apostle of Christ

6.7

acting coach: Mr. Caviezel

2018

 

Bill Pullman in The Ballad of Lefty Brown (2017)

The Ballad of Lefty Brown

6.3

acting coach

2017

 

Michiel Huisman and Blake Lively in The Age of Adaline (2015)

The Age of Adaline

7.2

acting coach: Mr. Huisman

2015

 

Beyond the Mask (2015)

Beyond the Mask

5.1

acting coach

2015

 

When the Game Stands Tall (2014)

When the Game Stands Tall

6.6

acting coach

2014

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone in Escape Plan (2013)

Escape Plan

6.7

acting coach

2013

 

Jim Caviezel, Sam Shepard, and Jaimie Alexander in Savannah (2013)

Savannah

5.8

acting coach (uncredited)

2013

 

Prom (2011)

Prom

5.4

acting coach

2011

 

Scream 4 (2011)

Scream 4

6.3

acting coach

2011

 

Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen in The Prisoner (2009)

The Prisoner

6.1

TV Mini Series

acting coach: Jim Caviezel

2009

6 episodes

 

Pauly Shore and Ariel Winter in Opposite Day (2009)

Opposite Day

3.8

acting coach: The John Kirby Studio LLC

2009

 

Jim Caviezel and Claudia Karvan in Long Weekend (2008)

Long Weekend

5.1

acting coach

2008

 

Hotel California (2008)

Hotel California

5.6

acting coach

2008

 

Jim Caviezel in Outlander (2008)

Outlander

6.2

acting coach

2008

 

Jason Lee in Underdog (2007)

Underdog

4.8

acting coach

2007

 

Denzel Washington and Paula Patton in Deja Vu (2006)

Deja Vu

7.1

acting coach

2006

 

Unknown (2006)

Unknown

6.4

acting coach: Mr. Caviezel (uncredited)

2006

 

Vanessa Lengies, Missy Peregrym, Nikki SooHoo, and Maddy Curley in Stick It (2006)

Stick It

6.4

acting coach

2006

 

Michael Madsen, Liam Neeson, Dawn French, Jim May, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Cameron Rhodes, Tilda Swinton, Ray Winstone, Skandar Keynes, Shane Rangi, and Georgie Henley in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

6.9

acting coach

2005

 

Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004)

Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius

6.6

acting coach: Mr. Caviezel (uncredited)

2004

 

Robin Williams in The Final Cut (2004)

The Final Cut

6.1

acting coach: Mr. Caviezel (uncredited)

2004

 

Jason Isaacs, Don Battee, Brian Carbee, Septimus Caton, Alan Cinis, Frank Gallacher, Phil Meacham, Darren Andrew Mitchell, Ludivine Sagnier, Bruce Spence, Jeremy Sumpter, Jacob Tomuri, Frank Whitten, Dan Wyllie, Harry Eden, Mick Roughan, George MacKay, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Harry Newell, Freddie Popplewell, Rupert Simonian, Theodore Chester, Lachlan Gooch, Patrick Gooch, and Venant Wong in Peter Pan (2003)

Peter Pan

6.8

acting coach

2003

 

I Am David (2003)

I Am David

7.1

acting coach: Mr. Caviezel

2003

 

Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd in High Crimes (2002)

High Crimes

6.4

acting coach: Mr. Caviezel

2002

 

Jim Caviezel in The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)

The Count of Monte Cristo

7.7

acting coach: Mr. Caviezel

2002

 

Jennifer Lopez in Angel Eyes (2001)

Angel Eyes

5.7

acting coach: Mr. Caviezel

2001

 

Madison (2001)

Madison

6.3

acting coach

2001

 

Promo poster

Pay It Forward

7.2

acting coach: Mr. Caviezel (uncredited)

2000

 

Dennis Quaid and Daniel Henson in Frequency (2000)

Frequency

7.4

acting coach: Mr. Caviezel

2000

 

Krakatoa: East of Java (1968)

Krakatoa: East of Java

5.5

dialogue coach

1968

 

Actor

Zombie Honeymoon (2004)

Zombie Honeymoon

4.6

The Priest

2004

 

Pacific Blue (1996)

Pacific Blue

5.6

TV Series

Father Crane

1999

2 episodes

 

The Cottonwood (1996)

The Cottonwood

6.8

The Priest

1996

 

Hollywood Chaos (1989)

Hollywood Chaos

3.3

1989

 

Alien Nation (1989)

Alien Nation

6.9

TV Movie

Supporter

1989

 

Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)

Punchline

5.9

Marketing Man

1988

 

Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder (1987)

Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder

7.6

TV Mini Series

Frank the Bartender

1987

3 episodes

 

Richard Dean Anderson in MacGyver (1985)

MacGyver

7.6

TV Series

Messenger

1987

1 episode

 

Ernest Borgnine, Jan-Michael Vincent, and Alex Cord in Airwolf (1984)

Airwolf

6.7

TV Series

Ralph Kovac

1985

1 episode

 

Fever Pitch (1985)

Fever Pitch

4.2

Bet-Taker

1985

 

Jane Seymour in Obsessed with a Married Woman (1985)

Obsessed with a Married Woman

5.7

TV Movie

1985

 

Will There Really Be a Morning? (1983)

Will There Really Be a Morning?

6.8

TV Movie

Sailor

1983

 

Romance Theatre (1982)

Romance Theatre

4.0

TV Series

1982

5 episodes

 

Lee Majors and Heather Thomas in The Fall Guy (1981)

The Fall Guy

7.1

TV Series

Assistant Director

1982

1 episode

 

Separate Ways (1981)

Separate Ways

4.7

Frat. #3

1981

 

Eight Is Enough (1977)

Eight Is Enough

6.6

TV Series

Delivery Boy

1981

1 episode

 

Tim Matheson, Lee Purcell, Thomas Carter, Didi Conn, John Friedrich, Bruno Kirby, Petronia Paley, Yvonne Sylvander, and Yvette Sylvander in Almost Summer (1978)

Almost Summer

5.8

Larry

1978

 

Alan Alda, David Ogden Stiers, Gary Burghoff, William Christopher, Jamie Farr, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, and Loretta Swit in M*A*S*H (1972)

M*A*S*H

8.5

TV Series

Duncan

1978

1 episode

 

Dracula's Dog (1977)

Dracula's Dog

4.5

Traveler

1977

 

Bea Arthur in Maude (1972)

Maude

7.3

TV Series

Randy

1976

1 episode

 

The First Nudie Musical (1976)

The First Nudie Musical

5.4

Bad Actor (scenes deleted)

1976

 

The Commitment

1976

 

Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson in Sanford and Son (1972)

Sanford and Son

7.9

TV Series

Herb

1975

1 episode

 

Stockard Channing in The Girl Most Likely to... (1973)

The Girl Most Likely to...

7.3

TV Movie

Aide #2

1973

 

Hans-Georg Kredewahn in Pyramid of the Sun God (1965)

Pyramid of the Sun God

5.2

Bandit (uncredited)

1965

 

Casting Director

Dream Center (2016)

Dream Center

TV Series

Casting Director

2017

10 episodes

 

Prank (2012)

Prank

Short

Casting Director

2012

 

The Cottonwood (1996)

The Cottonwood

6.8

Casting Director

1996

 

Hollywood Chaos (1989)

Hollywood Chaos

3.3

Casting Director

1989

 

Director

Unt. L.A. Based Drama

TV Mini Series

directed byDirector (2022)

2023

1 episode

 

Casting Department

Unt. L.A. Based Drama

TV Mini Series

Casting Department (2022)

2022

 

Beautifully Flawed (2018)

Beautifully Flawed

TV Movie

casting consultant

2018

 

Producer

The Cottonwood (1996)

The Cottonwood

6.8

co-producer

1996

 

Second Unit or Assistant Director

The First Circle (1973)

The First Circle

5.6

dialogue director

1973

 

Location Management

Destined to Be Heard (2018)

Destined to Be Heard

Short

locations

2018

 

Script and Continuity Department

Beautifully Flawed (2018)

Beautifully Flawed

TV Movie

script consultant

2018

 

Thanks

Mark Duke Dalton, Jonas Ball, and Obren Milanovic in Walnuts the Movie (2024)

Walnuts the Movie

special thanks

2024

 

Beautifully Flawed (2018)

Beautifully Flawed

TV Movie

very special thanks

2018

 

Destined to Be Heard (2018)

Destined to Be Heard

Short

the producers wish to thank

2018

 

Kill Game (2016)

Kill Game

4.2

special thanks

2016

 

London and the Muse (2015)

London and the Muse

7.3

Short

very special thanks

2015

 

Rawhead and Bloodybones (2014)

Rawhead and Bloodybones

9.6

Short

special thanks

2014

 

Luke Goss in Dead Drop (2013)

Dead Drop

3.6

Video

special thanks

2013

 

The Heeler (2013)

The Heeler

6.8

Short

very special thanks

2013

 

Evgenia Brik and Bryan Becker in Revolve (2012)

Revolve

Short

special thanks

2012

 

Erica Rice in Blind Doll (2005)

Blind Doll

4.8

Short

special thanks

2005

 

Self

The Hasselhoffs (2010)

The Hasselhoffs

2.9

TV Series

Self - Acting Coach

2010

1 episode

 

If I Can Dream (2010)

If I Can Dream

6.2

TV Series

Self - Acting Coach

2010

18 episodes

 

From Dollars to Donuts: An Undressing of the First Nudie Musical

8.1

Video

Self

2002

 

Archive Footage

Erin Burnett OutFront (2011)

Erin Burnett OutFront

5.8

TV Series

Self - Pentagon Press Secretary (archive footage)

2022

1 episode